BUT,…first this great cartoon again as we need to laugh as well.

As shared by the organizers, cartoon by Richard Geytenbeek.

AND THEN to not forget

Anita shared some pictures from the NSW Police Force from the incident. As both pilots are fine, I share them this time.
Both men were flown to Canberra Hospital by the Snowy Hydro Southcare helicopter.

  

      

NOT GOOD!!!!! Let’s not forget to fly SAFE. And to have a good parachute!!!!

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Back to 1987 and I got help from Anni Kehn. They were like we a real soaring family.
“1987 was so great, volunteering at Benalla. Elke [ Mum from Anni and Chris] was doing all the administration for the OSTIV Congress and the rest of Team Kiehn were meteo assistants. I even went for a fabulous flight with Dr Jörg Hacker from Adelaide Uni in a Grob around Mount Buffalo, doing some other met readings. Felt important holding a clipboard, taking notes! We certainly had a great time.
It all started for Chris at Benalla, meeting Klaus Holighaus and thinking about an apprenticeship at Schempp/Hirth, which he started a year later. ”

Here are Anni and Chris in 1987.

  

“Birthday cake! Not sure if it was for Wally Wallington or Manfred Reinhardt. We were doing the weather balloons”

“Chris hard at work tracking the weather balloons. I did all the conversions and directions ready for the met people prior to briefing. Us Kiehn’s were a great team! Was fun!”

 and the meteo team

Chris now at Benalla with mate AJ. and Anni in Africa.

   

Day 6 in 1987!! After a rest day they continued and this was the beginning of a good week weather-wise. So there is hope for “now” .
The day started however late and most pilots went on track after 2 PM for tasks as 445 for open,344 for standard and 405 for 15 m.
In open George and Dennis had a real handicap as the allowed weight for the NIMBUS 3D was 750 k. and the best speed was possible with 800 kilo. They just could not take enough water with them.
It was the first task with legs into the mountains and like now they did not all like that.
Dutch st .class pilot and twice world champion had difficulties that day and had to dig himself out; 20 minutes lost.
Unfortunately the thermals in the mountains were weak. Some saw the hang-gliders along the slopes of Mount Buffalo , but the approaching pilots  also saw that the gliders were low over the mountains.
As the TP was at Mt Buffalo some climbed as high as possible before flying to the hang gliders and back. The late starters got into trouble and a lot out landed.
In open Marco Gavazzi from Italy was the winner, used to fly in the Apenines he used the best “route” and with 106.9 km.h he won the day.
In standard class Finnish pilot Marko Kuittinen won the day [112.3 km./h] and in 15 m. Brian Spreckley won with a speed of 101.3 km./h.

Nice anecdote from GOOD FINISH.
John Byrd from team USA flew in standard class and did not like gaggles so he flew his own track; directly to the ridges bordering the valley .
Normally the good decision, not now ,..he struggled and finally had to land. He walked to the farm and the farmer was kind let him use the telephone to talk to his crew. But the farmer was also busy and returned to his job; installing an electric water heater on the roof. John, an electrician climbed with the farmer on the roof and both finished the job.

 

Mr Marco Gavazzi.

The overall scores after 6 days from GOOD FINISH.

Marko Kuittinen , flying in standard class was of course from Finland!!

Mind you after 12 days the Champion  in open was Ingo Renner,[Australia]  with Marc Schroeder [France] and  Bruno Gantenbrink [Germany] with silver and bronze. In the next 6 days they only swapped places.
In Standard class the title champion went to Marco Kuittinen with the silver for Mike Opitz from the USA and the bronze for Jaques Aboulin from France.
So in those last 6 days a lot happened in this class!!!!
In 15 m. UK pilot Brian Spreckley finished a fun time with relaxed flying on the golden spot. Holger Back, who before  or after flew his first 1000 in Tocumwal, [I am pretty sure after as in the beginning of February they flew with 6 a 1000 from Toc.] got the silver and the bronze was for Doug Jacobs from the USA.
Also in this class some changes, more about them next week.

Cheers Ritz